The Cowsheds - Rovers ready for another taste of the Orient

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Rovers ready for another taste of the Orient
Friday 20th November, 2009
By Richard Ault

"It's a funny old game". Perhaps the oldest and most widely used football cliché there is. But after losing at Norwich last Saturday despite a fine performance, Rovers then turned in one of their worst of the season at Orient on Tuesday and won. Funny indeed. Now they just need to do it again.

Ash Taylor's late strike on Tuesday night was a massive boost. It put Rovers into the second round of the FA Cup and lifted everyone's spirits. Now it's imperative that Rovers, at the very least, avoid defeat tomorrow when they visit Orient again.

Rovers currently sit second from bottom in League One, Orient perched a few places above them just outside the relegation zone. If Rovers were to lose this weekend, they could be as many as nine points from safety. Victory however would finally present signs of a turnaround in fortunes.

How it stands

Coca-Cola League One - bottom

		P	GD	Pts
17	Exeter	16	-6	18
18	Carlisle	16	-4	17
19	Brighton	16	-7	17
20	Leyton Orient	16	-12	16
21	Stockport	16	-13	14
22	Southampton	16	5	12
23	Tranmere	16	-23	10
24	Wycombe	16	-16	8

This weekend in League One

There are some interesting fixtures affecting the bottom of League One this weekend. Aside from Rovers' trip to Orient, Stockport and Exeter go head-to-head at Edgeley Park in what is a vital game for both teams. Victory for the home side would most likely take them out of the bottom four and drag the Grecians right in to the relegation dogfight.

Elsewhere, Carlisle entertain Swindon Town whilst Brighton boss Gus Poyet comes up against his former club as Leeds United visit the Withdean Stadium. Southampton host Norwich City whilst rock-bottom Wycombe travel to Millwall.

Team news

Both teams will be welcoming back several important players. The home side have on loan duo Andros Townsend and Luke Summerfield available again after the pair were cup-tied in midweek.

Rovers will be without Alan Mahon who is now likely to miss up to a month of action due to injury picked up in the game with Orient at Prenton Park earlier in the month. John Welsh returns after suspension though for Rovers and may go back into the starting line-up. Bas Savage remains a long term absentee.